Friday, November 5, 2010

If you've recently started college and need cheap car insurance, there's a quick and easy to find it. Consider searching for car insurance quotes online to compare what various providers have to offer. You might feel that, as a student under the age of 24, you can't obtain an affordable rate. Sure, it's true that the average provider does consider young drivers to be a high risk. But fortunately, some do cater to young drivers and offer better rates than others. That's why it's important to shop around for auto insurance quotes online before securing your policy.

How Do Online Quotes Work?

It's a simple process. You'll fill in information about yourself, your driving record and the make, model and year of the vehicle you own. You won't be required to put sensitive information such as your social security number; however, you will be asked to fill in certain information that pertains to car insurance and driving. This information is necessary for the provider to be able to give an accurate quote. Once you fill in the information about yourself, you'll receive some quotes back immediately online. Others will be sent via e-mail, and you might even receive a phone call or two. Then you'll be able to compare which provider is offering the best deal for your needs.

Things to Remember

When submitting an online auto insurance quote request, be sure to include information about yourself that could possibly result in a discount. You can knock off 10 to 15 percent just by keeping your grades up in college, taking a driver's course and keeping your credit score as high as possible. Insurance providers take all these into consideration. Providers also consider what type of car you drive (whether it's safe and secure), if the car is a sports car or family style sedan, etc. The city and state, college neighborhood, traffic and daily commute times are all factors as well. If you walk to the college campus each day, the low car mileage can possibly lower your rate.

Tips for Comparing Car Insurance Quotes Online

Gather policy data from some of the top providers in your state. These may include nationally recognized providers such as Geico, Progressive, and others but don't rule out some smaller companies. The key to a good comparison is to consider the company's financial stability, which can be determined through a rating site such as A.M. Best, and overall customer service reputation. Better Business Bureau provides customer complaint information as well as each state's Department of Insurance. The Internet makes all this pertinent information available at your fingertips.

Consider raising your deductible amount and also opt for the minimum amount of liability car insurance required by your state. If your car is paid in full, you won't have to purchase collision or comprehensive coverage unless you just feel you need these. Sometimes collision coverage can cost more than the car is worth, so you'll want to be careful not to pay too much for your car insurance.

Use car insurance quotes online to find providers that cater to college student drivers. The savings are definitely worth an hour or two of your time!